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Inspired by Jubba's comments in the ipod thread, I decided to open a thread about media piracy; software, movies, TV Programmes etc.
My view is that there are easy ways to justify piracy and it's pretty commonplace because it's easy to do. But if you look at it objectively it's still the same as stealing, albeit not stealing anything physical.
I used to be happy doing it too, I admit. Swapping Spectrum or C64 games in the school playground was easy for anyone who had a midi system with a double tape deck and with a bit of stopping and starting you could easily get 6 or more games on a C60 tape.
At the same time Video tapes and recorders made it easier to get to see films not long after they were at the cinema, with even a local video rental shop distributing copies of Robocop and Gremlins long before they were on TV or available to rent. It was also useful for seeing banned films, which allowed me to watch Zombie Flesh Eaters courtesy of someone in the charity I worked for and Clockwork Orange, which quickly got copied many times.
Nowadays its digital copies from the internet which are the easiest to get hold of. Just downloading a bittorrent client and going to google will get most of the games, movies or TV series you could wish for.
The issue, though, is this. If you're stealing intellectual rights rather than physical material it does seem to muddy the waters of what is right or wrong.
For example, if you download and watch a TV series that you can see on TV already, is that wrong? How about if that series was available on a channel you didn't have? If you then deleted the file after watching wouldn't that be the same as going to a friend's house to watch?
Likewise with films, if you go to the cinema and watch Avatar, for example, then download it and THEN go and buy it when it finally comes out, is that wrong?
With games I would think most people would download them and not go and buy the originals afterwards. My first PSP was hacked and easy to use with copied games, but I didn't bother with the current one as I wanted to support what Sony and the developers were doing with the cheaper games to download. Same with the app store, there are some fantastic apps at great prices from small developers who would suffer if people pirated their games.
As a big supporter of small developers I'm concerned over the affects that piracy on PSP, iPod and even consoles has on the company and on prices for those who choose to pay for them.
My view is that there are easy ways to justify piracy and it's pretty commonplace because it's easy to do. But if you look at it objectively it's still the same as stealing, albeit not stealing anything physical.
I used to be happy doing it too, I admit. Swapping Spectrum or C64 games in the school playground was easy for anyone who had a midi system with a double tape deck and with a bit of stopping and starting you could easily get 6 or more games on a C60 tape.
At the same time Video tapes and recorders made it easier to get to see films not long after they were at the cinema, with even a local video rental shop distributing copies of Robocop and Gremlins long before they were on TV or available to rent. It was also useful for seeing banned films, which allowed me to watch Zombie Flesh Eaters courtesy of someone in the charity I worked for and Clockwork Orange, which quickly got copied many times.
Nowadays its digital copies from the internet which are the easiest to get hold of. Just downloading a bittorrent client and going to google will get most of the games, movies or TV series you could wish for.
The issue, though, is this. If you're stealing intellectual rights rather than physical material it does seem to muddy the waters of what is right or wrong.
For example, if you download and watch a TV series that you can see on TV already, is that wrong? How about if that series was available on a channel you didn't have? If you then deleted the file after watching wouldn't that be the same as going to a friend's house to watch?
Likewise with films, if you go to the cinema and watch Avatar, for example, then download it and THEN go and buy it when it finally comes out, is that wrong?
With games I would think most people would download them and not go and buy the originals afterwards. My first PSP was hacked and easy to use with copied games, but I didn't bother with the current one as I wanted to support what Sony and the developers were doing with the cheaper games to download. Same with the app store, there are some fantastic apps at great prices from small developers who would suffer if people pirated their games.
As a big supporter of small developers I'm concerned over the affects that piracy on PSP, iPod and even consoles has on the company and on prices for those who choose to pay for them.
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Sonic Chris wrote:
> Well the simple answer is this: Life sucks.
If by "life" you actually mean "pirates."
And not the "Arr, matey!" variety.
> Well the simple answer is this: Life sucks.
If by "life" you actually mean "pirates."
And not the "Arr, matey!" variety.
Anyone remember the piracy ad on The IT Crowd ?,that was brilliant !.
Warhunt wrote:
> More probably on that new companies broadband,
> "make-believe.com" :D
Not "www.inyourdreams.co.uk" then :p
Still chuckling at Chris' comment earlier!
> More probably on that new companies broadband,
> "make-believe.com" :D
Not "www.inyourdreams.co.uk" then :p
Still chuckling at Chris' comment earlier!
More probably on that new companies broadband, "make-believe.com" :D
Warhunt wrote:
> Piracy is piracy. I may have done it, but if I have then not very
> often at all.
As I said, I did when I was younger. I don't know why I am on the straight and narrow though...is it because I'm consciouss of the fact of piracy, or is it the fact I cannot be bothered to wait for a download.
Saying that, if I can get the download speed of the girl that is downloading a film during the anti-piracy thingy at the beginning of each DVD, I'd be more likely to start. She is obviously on freeola broadband ;)
> Piracy is piracy. I may have done it, but if I have then not very
> often at all.
As I said, I did when I was younger. I don't know why I am on the straight and narrow though...is it because I'm consciouss of the fact of piracy, or is it the fact I cannot be bothered to wait for a download.
Saying that, if I can get the download speed of the girl that is downloading a film during the anti-piracy thingy at the beginning of each DVD, I'd be more likely to start. She is obviously on freeola broadband ;)
Piracy is piracy. I may have done it, but if I have then not very often at all.
I agree with pb's points about the smaller companies, but in the reality of the situation (as I'm sure pb will agree) it's very very easy to forget this in the light of receiving free stuff.
I agree with pb's points about the smaller companies, but in the reality of the situation (as I'm sure pb will agree) it's very very easy to forget this in the light of receiving free stuff.
pb wrote:
> HM wrote:
> I pay for
> my songs on iTunes,
>
> gah! You know you're using the most expensive place to buy
> them?
It's expensive, but I don't buy a great deal of music anyway. Plus it's having to store the files in the right place to get them up on iTunes :p
Will be shopping around in the future anyway - I'll be a skint student!
> HM wrote:
> I pay for
> my songs on iTunes,
>
> gah! You know you're using the most expensive place to buy
> them?
It's expensive, but I don't buy a great deal of music anyway. Plus it's having to store the files in the right place to get them up on iTunes :p
Will be shopping around in the future anyway - I'll be a skint student!
I took PB's dodgy PSP off him to save his conscience although that is now with someone else and my current PSP is all legit.
I'm against piracy but I do understand the temptation to just download something rather than paying for it. I have someone who always wants to chip my xbox for me and will supply me with plenty of games but ignoring the piracy aspect, if I did that then I'd never actually finish a game. It would be a quick shot of game A before moving onto game B which is what he does.
The one thing that puzzles me is that the sites that host all these downloads are easy enough for people to find so why aren't they shut down?
I'm against piracy but I do understand the temptation to just download something rather than paying for it. I have someone who always wants to chip my xbox for me and will supply me with plenty of games but ignoring the piracy aspect, if I did that then I'd never actually finish a game. It would be a quick shot of game A before moving onto game B which is what he does.
The one thing that puzzles me is that the sites that host all these downloads are easy enough for people to find so why aren't they shut down?
HM wrote:
> I pay for
> my songs on iTunes,
gah! You know you're using the most expensive place to buy them?
Try Amazon, 7 Digital or Tesco instead. Especially for albums (Tesco has a weekly deal of albums for £5, some of them brand new ones).
Oh and Play.com have Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More for £5. Very good album.
> I pay for
> my songs on iTunes,
gah! You know you're using the most expensive place to buy them?
Try Amazon, 7 Digital or Tesco instead. Especially for albums (Tesco has a weekly deal of albums for £5, some of them brand new ones).
Oh and Play.com have Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More for £5. Very good album.
Sonic Chris wrote:
> I have to say i'm in full support of piracy, although I have to
> be careful to not advertise it on the forums.
Fail? :p
I used to copy Amiga games and PSOne, but eventually realised I appreciated things more if I saved up and bought them. I pay for my songs on iTunes, don't have an video recording device and barely watch TV.
I guess watching videos on YouTube of TV programmes would technically count as piracy, but I rarely have the time for that either.
Would rather all media be free though. That way piracy couldn't exist :p
> I have to say i'm in full support of piracy, although I have to
> be careful to not advertise it on the forums.
Fail? :p
I used to copy Amiga games and PSOne, but eventually realised I appreciated things more if I saved up and bought them. I pay for my songs on iTunes, don't have an video recording device and barely watch TV.
I guess watching videos on YouTube of TV programmes would technically count as piracy, but I rarely have the time for that either.
Would rather all media be free though. That way piracy couldn't exist :p
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